Florida re-creates an emergency fund for declared disasters

The law re-creates the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund and makes deposited money available to the Governor for certain emergencies. The fund is within the Executive Office of the Governor and may support natural, manmade, or technological emergencies declared by the Governor. Money must be transferred or appropriated to the fund by the Legislature or under section 11.90. The emergency must be declared by the Governor and exceed regularly appropriated funding sources. For a renewed natural emergency, budget amendments must follow the notice, review, and objection process in section 216.177. For a renewed manmade or technological emergency, that process applies, with an approval option involving the Legislative Budget Commission’s chair and vice chair. The law operates retroactively to February 17, 2026, and took effect when it became law.

The law requires federal reimbursements for state emergency spending to go into a separate fund account and limits purchases with fund money. These rules cover federal reimbursements of state emergency spending and purchases made with money in the fund. Money in the separate account may pay only invoices incurred before the reimbursement arrived. It cannot be used for another purpose until all those earlier invoices are paid. Fund money cannot buy aircraft, boats, or motor vehicles, but may pay for short-term leases of them to respond to an emergency.

The law requires the Division of Emergency Management to report to legislative leaders about the fund and emergency spending. The duty applies to the Division of Emergency Management and covers the fund, emergency-related assets, and invoices. Reports must cover the projected year-end fund balance, updated cash flow, federal reimbursements, purchased assets and their status, and pending invoices. Reports go to the Senate President and House Speaker. Reports begin July 15, 2026, and are due by the 15th day of the month after each quarter.